Mercedes-Benz is preparing a new coupe and convertible that will replace the equivalent C- and E-Class. The automaker will allegedly call it the CLE, and numerous spy photos have captured various trim testing models. Mercedes has hidden style under camouflage, but a new rendering of Kolesa.ru peel to predict the final design of the car.
Based on the E-Class coupe, renderings depict the hotter AMG CLE 53 variant that was recently spied on. The coupe features a wide grille, sweeping headlights, wide lower bumper openings, and sizable intakes on the outer edges. The rear design isn’t particularly aggressive, but the four round exhaust pipes reveal the car’s performance attributes, sliding under the hotter AMG CLE 63 in its lineup and square exhaust pipes.
The spy shots we’ve published so far show off attractive coupes and convertibles that look small and agile. Two doors don’t stray far from the brand’s current design language, which some find rather boring. The overall design of the model matches the rest of the lineup. Mercedes will likely differentiate the CLE 53 from the cooler CLE 63 by cutting back on the front-end styling.
The new CLE will use the Mercedes MRA-2 platform that underpins the new C-Class. The shared platform likely means CLE will attack the powertrain section of the C-Class. We haven’t seen the CLE’s interior yet, but it should be similar to the C-Class when it arrives, with a digital display and the latest features.
The top-of-the-line AMG CLE 63 will have to borrow the powertrain from the new C63 SE Performance, which pairs a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor for 671 horsepower (493 kilowatts). Mercedes could give the coupe and convertible a different tone, changing the output numbers for the CLE, but we don’t expect a substantial difference.
We don’t know when Mercedes will reveal the new CLE-Class. Previous rumors have suggested that the automaker will reveal the new model before the end of 2022, but Mercedes has yet to announce a debut date. The hotter AMG variant is likely to break out in 2023 for the 2024 model year.
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